Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Mastercard (NYSE:MA), and it’s something market players shouldn’t ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in MA usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga’s options scanner highlighted 18 extraordinary options activities for Mastercard. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 38% leaning bullish and 55% bearish. Among these notable options, 4 are puts, totaling $130,368, and 14 are calls, amounting to $1,179,675.
Projected Price Targets
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it’s evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $480.0 and $560.0 for Mastercard, spanning the last three months.
Analyzing Volume & Open Interest
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Mastercard’s options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Mastercard’s whale activity within a strike price range from $480.0 to $560.0 in the last 30 days.
Mastercard 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot
Largest Options Trades Observed:
Symbol
PUT/CALL
Trade Type
Sentiment
Exp. Date
Ask
Bid
Price
Strike Price
Total Trade Price
Open Interest
Volume
MA
CALL
TRADE
BEARISH
01/21/28
$96.95
$96.0
$96.0
$540.00
$480.0K
253
15
MA
CALL
SWEEP
NEUTRAL
01/09/26
$16.25
$16.1
$16.25
$535.00
$146.8K
3
90
MA
CALL
TRADE
BEARISH
01/21/28
$96.95
$96.0
$96.0
$540.00
$134.4K
253
15
MA
CALL
TRADE
BEARISH
12/18/26
$101.65
$98.6
$98.6
$480.00
$49.3K
4
7
MA
CALL
TRADE
BEARISH
12/18/26
$94.6
$90.9
$91.85
$490.00
$45.9K
23
12
About Mastercard
Mastercard is the second-largest payment processor in the world, having processed close to $10 trillion in volume during 2024. Mastercard operates in over 200 countries and processes transactions in over 150 currencies.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Mastercard, we pivot to a closer look at the company’s own performance.
Current Position of Mastercard
- Currently trading with a volume of 1,103,671, the MA’s price is down by -1.24%, now at $538.73.
- RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.
- Anticipated earnings release is in 52 days.
What The Experts Say On Mastercard
In the last month, 1 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $633.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge’s Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access.
* In a positive move, an analyst from HSBC has upgraded their rating to Buy and adjusted the price target to $633.
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Mastercard with Benzinga Pro for real-time alerts.
